Trey Songz Albums (3)
What The Critics Say
Three albums in and Trey Songz still sounds like he was raised in a bizzaro land where all music was based on the teachings of R. Kelly. From his cool delivery to his unashamed lyrics -- first line on the album: "This one here's a panty dropper" -- he's a time-warp version of Kelly, one just entering his mid-twenties with a more excusable, though just as excessive, horniness. To call it anything less, like "lust", wouldn't be fair to the lines about pillow-biting on "Neighbors Know My Name" -- because "she's a screamer" -- or all the other moments that get a bit too graphic for an album that doesn't carry a Parental Advisory sticker (especially dangerous since Songz still has teen appeal at his age). An odd mashing of his mentor's styles result in amusing numbers like "Jupiter Love" which packages its "do you right" message in an arrangement that's "I Believe I Can Fly" big, as if Disney commissioned a softcore porno soundtrack. Even at a whopping 17 like-minded tracks, all-night lovers wouldn't be caught dead complaining about how overly long it all is, and if you can't get down with an album featuring the key track "I Invented Sex," then you just don't understand the difference between ridiculous and delicious. Trey Songz might, or he might not, it's hard to tell, but either way, this is as entertaining and frivolous as a one-night stand should be. If those played-out R. Kelly albums aren't doing the trick anymore, Ready is just what it says it is. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
While growing up, the only active R&B artist Trey Songz paid any mind to was R. Kelly. The inspirations were few, but this didn't prevent him from being inspired enough to impress Troy Taylor, a producer and multi-instrumentalist who has worked with Boyz II Men, SWV, B2K, and Whitney Houston. Songz was taken under Taylor's wing for a few years, leading up to this debut album, released when the singer was just 20 years old. While Songz is hopefully shaking off his obvious indebtedness to Kelly here (a couple clumsy sexual metaphors, some strikingly similar vocal cadences, a few jarring swings from pimping to praying), I Gotta Make It is both very enjoyable and full of promise, carrying a fine balance between throwback and modern hip-hop soul. You can always sense that Songz is excited to be making an album; he doesn't even bother to affect a distant sense of cool, unlike so many of his youthful contemporaries, which is a definite asset. He has all the personality and talent necessary to have a long, productive career, which is firmly established with this album. Others obviously believe in his future; he worked with Gerald Levert and Trick Daddy prior to making the album, and Aretha Franklin starts it off with some wisdom. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
